Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati says he wants the federal government to ease up on border restrictions for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The current border closure is slated to end on July 21st, and Diodati says the decision needs to be made based on science.
We spoke to the mayor, who cited research from the federal medical panel that suggests fully vaccinated travelers pose a low risk of transmitting the virus.
He says he wants to see the government move forward with plans to re-open the border for individuals with both doses.
"I know a lot of us are saying the safest way probably would be to open up the border right now, initially to only fully vaccinated people. And I'm hoping the 21st of July is when they're going to move forward on that."
Diodati says Niagara is heavily reliant on tourism revenue from American travelers, and re-opening to double-dosed tourists would be a big boost to the local economy.
"Fifty percent of the revenue coming into Niagara Falls comes from the U.S, so that's why we're looking for a safe plan to safely re-open the border to fully vaccinated people and follow the science."
He also says he thinks Ontario is ready to enter Step Three of re-opening, which will not only help businesses recover, but will also help people suffering from issues such as domestic abuse, mental health problems and financial ruin.
The mayor went on to commend Niagara residents for working together as a community during the pandemic, and following safety protocols.
You can hear the full interview below.
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